The 3,033 yard 9 hole course is laid out on what was formerly a vineyard, thus the name Vineyard Valley Golf Club. Steeply sloped, the course has three holes that either go straight up or straight down the hillside. The other six holes traverse across the slope, providing for a challenging assortment of uphill, downhill and sidehill lies. Seldom will you get a flat lie anywhere on the course. Constant breezes and awkward stances make Vineyard Valley somewhat more demanding than the yardage would indicate at first glance.

Without question, the par 3 ninth is Vineyard Valley’s signature hole and is Northeast Connecticut’s answer to the famous island green at Sawgrass in Florida. Playing anywhere from 110 to 160 yards, the green is fronted by a watery marsh that has been the graveyard of many a good score. If you’re even a foot shy of landing on the green your destiny is a double bogey at best. It is truly a diabolically tricky finishing hole.

The par 4 fourth is another demanding hole that requires a well struck tee shot to the corner. Assuming that you may have been fortunate enough to get the ball in the perfect spot which would be about 100 to 140 yards from the green, your troubles will most assuredly not be over. You will now be confronted with a sidehill/downhill lie to a downhill green that severely slopes to the left. This may one of the most demanding short approaches anywhere in the area.